There have been few greater redemption stories in this sport in recent years.
Just seven weeks ago, Amanda Anisimova was on the wrong side of a historically one-sided Wimbledon final.
After being crushed 6-0, 6-0 by Iga Swiatek, Animisova’s tear-soaked speech in the next moments laid bare the toll that this collapse had taken on her.
It is the kind of result that permanently damages careers, leaving scars too embedded in the psyche to entirely heal.
The 24-year-old herself has spoken of the “guilt” he felt, particularly towards the fans who had paid good money for a ticket to a Wimbledon final that was finished in one shell-shocked hour.
“Truly the most that I felt bad was for the people that had come to watch that day,” Anisimova said in her post-match press conference.
“I know how much people pay for those tickets and are excited to see Wimbledon. I kind of had that guilt on my back, as opposed to winning my first Grand Slam final.”
Yet Anisimova had taken that most painful of defeats, and turned into the opening chapter of the most remarkable tale of redemption.
In front of a raucously supportive home crowd in New York, and on the less unpredictable surface of Flushing Meadows’ hard courts, Anisimova showed extraordinary courage in a superb display to defeat Swiatek 6-4, 6-3.
Not only did the American avenge one of the heaviest losses in Grand Slam final history, she has also knocked the world No 2 and a leading favourite to capture this year’s US Open title.
“I feel like I was able to bounce back from it [the Wimbledon defeat] really quickly. Maybe a few years ago I wouldn’t have done as well as I have this time,” she continued.
“I would have maybe blamed myself more or held on to the guilt for longer.
“I made a point to myself, and also maybe to other people, that if you really put a positive mindset out there then you can have a positive outcome.”
Anisimova also revealed that, for the first time since her defeat at SW19, the American rewatched highlights from that match on the eve of her rematch with Swiatek.
“I watched them [highlights] back, as painful as it was, just to see what I can avoid or what went wrong,” she explained.
“Then afterwards I had to watch some good highlights to remove that from my brain.”
Anisimova will now take on another player who is enjoying a stellar run in New York, when she faces Naomi Osaka this evening for a place in the US Open final.
